I’ve been getting some reports that our yard signs are being stolen and/or torn up, especially along the busy streets such as Arthur Street. The smallest sign order is for 100 signs at about $5 each. My question is this…..should we try to order more signs? If so should we come up with another design for the new ones to have a new look and impact…people are getting used to these and “not seeing them”. Or should we wait and see…? Another option would be for those of us who live on dead end streets or very low traffic streets to share our signs and move them around to have better/higher visibility.
The current status is that we are waiting on the Ministry of Energy to allow a variation on the Bio-En contract to change the location. There are conflicting reports as to how they, the Ministry, will respond. Mayor Cowan is in contact with the Ministry and hopes to have an answer sooner rather than later. The problem of course is that Bio-En has to proceed as if that approval won’t come since under their current FIT contract they have about 2 and 1/2 years to be in production. The hope is that the variation will be granted…and no one can see why it wouldn’t be granted, but it is still unknown. If it is granted then other possibilities come in to play.
In addition, meetings with the new Township Council members are proceeding. We hope to introduce a resolution to the new Council in the coming weeks, and get it approved, that will be sent to the Ministry of Environment that says we do not want this facility in downtown Elmira.
Bottom line, and please spread the word, it is NOT a done deal. Many things are still up-in-the-air. Don’t lose hope and keep the enthusiasm alive.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year’s Eve and a fantastic 2011!!
Dan
Dan Holt, Ph.D.
519 210 2121
lgr@epix.net
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We have new signs. They are very well designed and effective. You can pick up your sign at 2 Duke Street, Elmira (across the street from the Home Hardware store) go up the drive way and the signs are in the little white shed.
We are making progress. A lot is going on behind the scenes. I hope to have news in the near future. Remember, Bio-En expected to be in production this spring and ground has not been broken for any construction as of today. Keep the faith…and tell everyone this is NOT a “done deal”. We are making a difference.
This may be a good time to “rebrand” the group. As you said in “Long but Positive” we are not focused solely on stink, but also traffic issues and the bio-gas plant location.
Perhaps we should have a meeting in the new year to come up with a more representative name, and perhaps a sign re-design. Maybe there can be a more robust anchoring mechanism to make them theft-resistant.
Are people reporting stolen signs to the police?
–Bob.
I don’t think people are reporting the thefts to the police…not sure. There can be more robust signs but they cost more. Some signs are being completely removed wire and sign and others are having the sign taken off and the wire left in the ground…and it seems to only be on the high traffic streets.
We should probably meet sometime in late January when we know more about what is happening.